BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 343 



mon (Lawson, Carolina, 1709). Caught in great numbers in 

 nets at daybreak (Nuttall, Massachusetts, 1834). Quite 

 abundant (Giraud, 1844). Appears in large flocks on the open 

 plains of Long Island in fall, searching for grasshoppers and 

 other insect food (De Kay, New York, 1844). Common on 

 our coast both spring and autumn; great numbers taken in 

 nets (Peabody, Massachusetts, 1839). Pass throughout New 

 England; in 1865 immense flocks seen a few miles at sea fly- 

 ing south in fall; few alighted ashore (Samuels, 1870). Com- 

 mon spring and autumn migrant (J. A. Allen, 1879). Shot 

 numbers of these birds in marshes of Back Bay, Boston, where 

 the Public Library now stands (Samuels, 1897) . Not unusual 

 in northern Illinois in 1890 for one gun to kill from one hundred 

 to one hundred and fifty Golden Plover a day by walking up 

 to birds; decoy often two or three times to the decoys and 

 whistle, until sometimes the greater part lie dead upon the 

 grass; wing-tipped birds are tied out among the flock by 

 market hunters; dead birds also put out on sticks ; in northern 

 Illinois two hundred a day, one thousand a week, may be 

 killed over decoys; Isaac McLellan, veteran sportsman, says 

 that in years past they were found in countless numbers over 

 the grassy slopes of Montauk Point (Long Island, N. Y.), and 

 the hillsides of Gardiner's Island, but in later years, for some 

 unknown cause, they have forsaken their old haunts, and 

 flown to fresh fields and pastures new (Leffingwell, 1890). 

 Excellent sport with these birds when Snipe shooting on west- 

 ern prairies in spring; once so abundant as to seem to need 

 no legislation; seen no more in some places where very abun- 

 dant a few years ago; in Illinois and Indiana their number 

 was remarkable (Huntington, 1903). In late September, 

 young used to frequent Back Bay marshes, Boston, which I 

 considered splendid Plover ground; now a thing of the past 

 (Herbert K. Job, 1905). In 1886 could go within eight miles 

 of Chicago (April) and see thousands; now seen chiefly in 

 small flocks (Parker, 1890). At one time abundant in New 

 England in early fall; decreased greatly in past few years 

 (Cory, 1896). Becoming steadily rarer (Hoffmann, 1904). 

 Before the settlement of the west, and up to and beyond 



